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PERTH, Australia -- Nadia Petrova and Dmitry Tursunov
led Russia to its first Hopman Cup title. Spain couldn't even
get to the mixed doubles match. Petrova defeated Anabel Medina Garrigues and Tursonov beat Tommy
Robredo in singles matches on Friday to clinch the victory for
top-seeded Russia, which recently won the Davis Cup in Moscow. The singles victories eliminated the need for the mixed doubles
match in the final of the international dual-gender team event. Petrova won the first match, 6-0, 6-4, and then Tursunov sealed
the title for Russia with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Robredo. Petrova beat Medina Garrigues with a blistering forehand that
produced 12 winners. Medina Garrigues committed 25 unforced
errors. Tursunov powered 29 winners compared to just 13 for Robredo. Russia (3-1) clinched Group A with a 3-0 dusting of France on
Wednesday. Tursunov and Petrova won singles matches before
teaming up for a doubles triumph over Jerome Haehnel and Tatiana
Golovin. Spain (2-2) advanced on Thursday with a win over previously
unbeaten India. The tournament was guaranteed a new champion when the United
States lost its first two ties and was eliminated from
contention. The Americans (0-3) finished as the only winless team in the
event, claiming just three of nine overall matches.
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